Art
is all around us and it comes in many different forms and methods. Non-Western
art is no exception to the special feature in a work of art. The diverse and
intricate details in an Ancient Chinese Art piece show more than just a picture
or a scene, they show the time spent in completing this piece, the thought that
went into the successful completion of a work. In the piece of work, “Endless
Valleys and Mountains” (“Open”) many different techniques and messages are
being shown and given. This work is a handscroll from China that was created
during the Qing Dynasty in 1766 (“Open”). Although the author of this piece of
work did not leave a mark signifying who he or she was, the authenticity of
this work is not in question. Through the use of different elements and
principles of design this piece of work tells a story and highlights different
parts of the work.
“Endless
Valleys and Mountains” is a hanging scroll that is made out of paper and
completed with the use of black ink on the paper (“Open”). This piece of work
depicts a mountain range and valleys with houses and Chinese architecture and
buildings present. Although in this painting there is a Chinese structure,
there are not any humans depicted in this piece of art (“Open”). Chinese
paintings were made to create a mood rather than an objective reality. In
“Endless Valleys and Mountains” the use of the elements of art and design help
achieve the Chinese’s goal of creating a mood. The lines in this work are
strong but also quiet. The different widths and thicknesses of the black lines
in the horizontal direction create the trees and pine in this work. The use of
lines in this work also create the visual effect of the magnitude of the
mountain range. The lines draw your eye from one direction to the next, creating
the illusion of the mountain range spanning a large portion of the scene. As
the mountains and trees are drawn in the distance, the lines and strong colors
become quieter, which is not only visually pleasing to the eye but also show
the depth of the mountain range. The author of this piece used black ink only
in this piece of work (“Open”). With the color scheme being different shades of
the same color, black, the feeling that a person gets when looking at this work
is a calm and soft feeling, instead of a harsh and strong feeling. This
painting uses dull texture in the mountain ranges and makes the mountain ranges
feel real, instead of just ink on a paper. Value in this painting is very
present, through the use of black and white the trees and Chinese buildings are
able to be seen in a clearer view which gives effects of a real life scene
(“Open”). The form of this painting fully takes advantage of organic shapes
such as the mountains and paths to grasp the viewer’s attention and pull them
into the scene. Through use of the elements of art, this painting is so much
more than just ink on the paper.
The
principles of design also aid in the effect that this painting gives. The
contrast between white and black in the painting, there is also contrast incorporated
in the texture of this piece of artwork. The use of contrast in the texture
helps create the feel of location and perspective in this art piece (“Open”). Proportion
is used in this artwork when there are the trees, other than the trees there is
not another thing that is proportional in “Endless Valleys and Mountains”. The
emphasis for this Ancient Chinese art is not a single part of the work but,
rather the whole piece. However, once a person’s eyes find the Chinese
buildings in this work of art, that person’s eyes are no longer able to “unsee”
the buildings (“Open”). Repetition that is used throughout “Endless Valleys and
Mountains” can be found in the trees, and where the mountains and valleys
connect. The balance of this art is informal and dramatic. Without these
different principles of design, this piece would not have the effect that it
has on the people who view it.
“Endless
Valleys and Mountains” definitely has a function. I think that the function of
this artwork is to show what a mountain range and valleys in China look like,
while creating a cozy feeling when one looks at the painting (“Open”). This
artwork fits into the culture that produced it because there were many uses for
the valleys and mountains in China, a main use of them was for food and
agriculture. This shows how these beautiful creations are so much more than
just eye candy, they have a purpose for life. This artwork makes me feel happy
and calm, the use of the different shades of black ink adds character to this
piece of work.
There are many different ways that an artist can capture
and keep the attention of a viewer. Two major aids in this are the use of
elements and principles of design, as seen in “Endless Valleys and Mountains”.
Not only that, but the provenance and the function of this art adds to the
effect that it has on the viewer.
"Endless Valleys and Mountains"
Works Cited:
"Open F|S: Endless
Valleys and Mountains." Freer. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
